Competitive
tendering of government services, including capital projects, is not just
important; it is a key feature of honest, fair, and transparent governance.
tendering of government services, including capital projects, is not just
important; it is a key feature of honest, fair, and transparent governance.
Introduced
in this Province following the ouster of the Smallwood Administration (known,
among other things, for its arbitrary award of government business and cost
plus contracts) the Public Tendering Act (though still flawed) is viewed by many as a bulwark against
the corruption, nepotism, and excess, experienced in an earlier time.
in this Province following the ouster of the Smallwood Administration (known,
among other things, for its arbitrary award of government business and cost
plus contracts) the Public Tendering Act (though still flawed) is viewed by many as a bulwark against
the corruption, nepotism, and excess, experienced in an earlier time.
The Humber
Valley Paving Contract, arbitrarily cancelled by a former Minister of
Transportation and Works spoke to a demand not to return to a time when select political
cronies got rewarded for their partisan fealty. It elicited a storm of protest.
Valley Paving Contract, arbitrarily cancelled by a former Minister of
Transportation and Works spoke to a demand not to return to a time when select political
cronies got rewarded for their partisan fealty. It elicited a storm of protest.
Two awards, for two Muskrat Falls project related transmission lines, the largest completely untendered, should bring on a far worse storm.
Nalcor is
exempt from the Public Tender Act. Does that mean Nalcor spending should
have no oversight at all?
exempt from the Public Tender Act. Does that mean Nalcor spending should
have no oversight at all?
The recent announcement that the first HVdc tower
on Labrador-Island Transmission Line (LIL) was erected on April 12, 2015 inspired a person
to contact me and offer his trail of documents detailing how the work got
awarded.
I don’t know if he worked
for Nalcor. He said “just call me Tender Man”, with more of a smirk than a smile, his sincerity, however, never in doubt.
for Nalcor. He said “just call me Tender Man”, with more of a smirk than a smile, his sincerity, however, never in doubt.
While the information was
located on Nalcor’s web site, it is easy to see this is not the stuff an
average citizen would easily identify or pursue.
Two contracts are relevant; to some extent the first one sets up the second one.
located on Nalcor’s web site, it is easy to see this is not the stuff an
average citizen would easily identify or pursue.
Two contracts are relevant; to some extent the first one sets up the second one.
The facts are these:
Contract #CT0319 covers
construction of the transmission line between Muskrat Falls and the Upper
Churchill facility. This is an A/C Line intended to facilitate the Water
Management Agreement (now undergoing challenge in the Quebec Superior Court).
construction of the transmission line between Muskrat Falls and the Upper
Churchill facility. This is an A/C Line intended to facilitate the Water
Management Agreement (now undergoing challenge in the Quebec Superior Court).
On Sept. 28, 2012 a
Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued for this Contract; the RFP closed on Jan. 13, 2013.
Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued for this Contract; the RFP closed on Jan. 13, 2013.
The Febuary 2013 Report from Nalcor
indicates eleven bidders had pre-qualified.
indicates eleven bidders had pre-qualified.
Nalcor awarded the Tender
to Vallard on December 17, 2013.
to Vallard on December 17, 2013.
Was the contract awarded
to the lowest bidder? We don’t know.
to the lowest bidder? We don’t know.
We only know Vallard
Construction LP was awarded the Contract.
Construction LP was awarded the Contract.
If the Tender had been
awarded, consistent with the practices of the Public Tendering Act, we might
have attended an “Opening”, watched the “Steel Box” unsealed, and the bid
amounts announced. The Bidders were “qualified” as the Nalcor documents show.
The only issue outstanding was the bid price. The bids would have been part of
the public record. The public would have known it received best value.
awarded, consistent with the practices of the Public Tendering Act, we might
have attended an “Opening”, watched the “Steel Box” unsealed, and the bid
amounts announced. The Bidders were “qualified” as the Nalcor documents show.
The only issue outstanding was the bid price. The bids would have been part of
the public record. The public would have known it received best value.
The figure of $200
million has been mentioned. But, again, we don’t know the precise amount. And, we don’t
know if the award was given the lowest bidder.
million has been mentioned. But, again, we don’t know the precise amount. And, we don’t
know if the award was given the lowest bidder.
What comes next is far bigger.
Contract #CT0327 involves the erection of approximately 3,300 towers, over a three year period, along a D/C, 1100 km transmission line stretching from the Muskrat Falls site to Soldiers Pond. It is at least five times the size of the earlier one mentioned. Including Nalcor provided materials this contract is worth $1 billion.
Originally, two contracts were contemplated to construct the Labrador Island Link TL, but one RFP was cancelled quickly. In the end, only one contract was finally issued.
Let’s look at the trail
of evidence provided by the Tender Man.
of evidence provided by the Tender Man.
Package CT0327 was issued for one Section 1. A second Package CT0346 was issued for Section 2. (The two Sections represent the entire 1100 Km. of line)
Both RFP’s can seen
listed on Table 20 of the Muskrat Falls Project – January 2014 Report indicating that the RFP’s “are expected to be issued during 2014”.
That is the last reference you
will see of Package CT0346.
It
is missing from the March 2014 Report and afterwards. (The RFP Close date on this Report for Contract CT 0327 is presumably a Nalcor typo).
listed on Table 20 of the Muskrat Falls Project – January 2014 Report indicating that the RFP’s “are expected to be issued during 2014”.
That is the last reference you
will see of Package CT0346.
It
is missing from the March 2014 Report and afterwards. (The RFP Close date on this Report for Contract CT 0327 is presumably a Nalcor typo).
Nalcor does not provide
information on how or why CT0346 was melded into Contract CT0327.
information on how or why CT0346 was melded into Contract CT0327.
Next, examine Table 19 of
the June 2014 Project Report.
the June 2014 Project Report.
Note that the RFP for
CT0327 is listed as “Issued”, except it shows no bidders in the “Qualified
Bidders” column.
CT0327 is listed as “Issued”, except it shows no bidders in the “Qualified
Bidders” column.
Now, look at the July 2014 Project Report.
The status of CT0327 is reported “Issued and Closed”; that’s the entire 1100 Km of
Transmission Line and 3300 towers.
No Tender -the Tender process is shut down by Nalcor.
Transmission Line and 3300 towers.
No Tender -the Tender process is shut down by Nalcor.
“Tender Man” points
out not only did RFP CT0346 disappear, bidders were told not to complete bids for CT0327.
out not only did RFP CT0346 disappear, bidders were told not to complete bids for CT0327.
The contract was awarded to Vallard Construction LP, the same contractor given the award of the transmission line to the Upper Churchill.
The Muskrat to Upper
Churchill TL had 11 bidders. We don’t know how many of them intended to bid on the TL to
Soldier’s Pond. We do know some of them planned to bid and had begun the estimating process. Some bidders may have already spent
tens of thousands of dollars on their bids by the time the process was shut down.
Churchill TL had 11 bidders. We don’t know how many of them intended to bid on the TL to
Soldier’s Pond. We do know some of them planned to bid and had begun the estimating process. Some bidders may have already spent
tens of thousands of dollars on their bids by the time the process was shut down.
How does a $1 billion Contract (even if it includes Nalcor purchased materials) get pulled back from an independent bidding process?
We need to know.
Over 1100 km. of terrain,
vast environmental differences, geographical challenges as to access,
equipment, as well as management, all would have had an influence on the final
Bid price. But the scope of the work in
this RFP is well-defined. It is as good as it gets for the tendering process.
vast environmental differences, geographical challenges as to access,
equipment, as well as management, all would have had an influence on the final
Bid price. But the scope of the work in
this RFP is well-defined. It is as good as it gets for the tendering process.
There is nothing unique
about erecting a transmission line.
about erecting a transmission line.
Major players in the oil
industry constantly go to Tender for far more complex and larger projects.
industry constantly go to Tender for far more complex and larger projects.
Husky, Exxon Mobil, and
others consider it an essential process.
others consider it an essential process.
Its importance for
government far outweighs… because, at stake, is public money and perceptions of
fairness and equity, in addition to value.
government far outweighs… because, at stake, is public money and perceptions of
fairness and equity, in addition to value.
Did Vallard offer
expertise or skills not found with the other Bidders?
expertise or skills not found with the other Bidders?
Evidently not.
Vallard Construction LP enjoys no special status in
the Tower/TL construction field. The Company boasts the Labrador Island Link TL as
the largest contract it has received in its history.
It is also the only Tower/TL work they have undertaken in eastern Canada.
the Tower/TL construction field. The Company boasts the Labrador Island Link TL as
the largest contract it has received in its history.
It is also the only Tower/TL work they have undertaken in eastern Canada.
The arbitrariness and secrecy of Nalcor was legendary during the sanctioning process for Muskrat Falls. Its disavowal of any public responsibility for even minimal adherence to the principles of the Public Tendering Act suggests this is a Crown Corporation totally out of control.
We need answers to those
questions:
We need answers to those
questions:
Why are contracts valued
in the hundreds of millions awarded without public tender by Nalcor?
in the hundreds of millions awarded without public tender by Nalcor?
Was the Minister of Natural Resources consulted regarding the approval process?
Did the Minister obtain the approval for the two Transmission Line Contracts, and other untendered Muskrat Falls contracts, to the
Premier and Cabinet?
Did the Minister obtain the approval for the two Transmission Line Contracts, and other untendered Muskrat Falls contracts, to the
Premier and Cabinet?
Otherwise, is Nalcor CEO Ed Martin’s
word enough when major contracts are issue without public tender? Is that all that is required to demonstrate everything was above board?
word enough when major contracts are issue without public tender? Is that all that is required to demonstrate everything was above board?
Where is the Oversight
Committee and why has it not reported on those Tenders?
Committee and why has it not reported on those Tenders?
What was the final value
of the contract awards and were they within the budgeted amounts for the work?
of the contract awards and were they within the budgeted amounts for the work?
Meanwhile the Government raises taxes. It sends another $760 million to Nalcor.
“Tender Man” asks that I write the Premier and
demand an investigation.
“Tender Man” asks that I write the Premier and
demand an investigation.
I will publish the Premier’s reply on this Blog. The Premier and Nalcor CEO Ed Martin have a lot of answering to do.
THE FOX IS MINDING TH HENHOUSE! Now we know the reason why Bill 29 was rammed through the House, despite the disapproval of the entire electorate of Newfoundland and Labrador once they knew what Bill 29 was all about. The electorate's voices were heard loud and clear in opposition of the Bill once they envisioned the coverup of everything that was about to go on under the blanket of Bill 29 concerning the dealings with the Muskrat Falls Project that would put their province once more DEEP in debt! Is it possible we can have the political rascals involved in The Muskrat Falls debacle and Bill 29 evicted from government by calling an election? As far as I am concerned Muskrat Falls was dreamt up to make a few multi multi-millionaires from our province and other parts of Canada. To boot, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is not destined to be the primary beneficiary of the hydroelectric energy to be produced from Muskrat Falls since that hydro energy is already pledged to Nova Scotia. Again, like every natural resource that has ever been developed here, some other province will be the primary beneficiary.
Do we have any press left in this province? Can we once and for all expose the PCs for the criminals they are?
The answer to your question(s) is, "no there is no press left in this province. The left-wing rag "The Telegram" is too busy telling us how much we should hate Harper. VOCM is too busy reporting on another fender-bender or moose sighting. NTV loves the perp walk and does anyone still watch the CBC? This is what is passes for news here."
Thankfully we have Des Sullivan, Ed Hollett, JM, former Pemier Peckford, Cabot Martin, Winston Adams, Vision2041, et al. exposing this boondoggle for what it is…a politically motivated salute to Mr. Williams.
The Telegram does a great deal of work for the government and it`s departments and agencies may be a little BIAS with them. Workers Comp the House of Assembly. You name it. Lots of money.
This Nalcor process sounds a lot like what the provincial government does with engineering consultants. Now there is a can of worms should anyone wish to take it on. Someday an adventurous historian may follow the money but i doubt we will see that slime trail in our time.
John D Pippy
Sadly more people in this province are concerned with gay and animal rights. That is until the huge power bills arrive. Thanks to you guys for being honest. at least someone has been. Ive followed this from its inception, and being a very logical person, your banter is the only sensible take on a project that will bankrupt this province.
If you recall Mr. Davis referred to Nalcor as independent of the government. But if you check out the Board of Directors at Lands and Deeds when Mr. Williams was premier you will find some interesting names on that Board that would bring Nalcor`s independence into question.
This would also be the same for Workers Compensation and the Labour Board. Patronage appointments which take away from their so called independence from the government. It was brought to Mr. Williams attention right before he quit. And as well to his replacements and no one does anything about it, they just allow it to continue. It is all coming out I will make sure.